Darwin Nunez began the summer season of worldwide soccer in good goalscoring type at Copa America, however what occurred subsequent might be acquainted to Liverpool followers.
I arrived on the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, simply in time for the opening minutes of Uruguay’s second group recreation of the 2024 Copa America, in opposition to Bolivia – simply in time to see Darwin Nunez miss two possibilities.
Regardless of having left Liverpool a lot earlier that morning, for a second it was like being again at Anfield.
This recreation on the east coast of america was a 9am kickoff, but additionally a 2am kickoff for anybody nonetheless on British Summer time Time, as I used to be.
However the thrilling attacking play of Nunez, lacking possibilities and ultimately scoring – all the time a menace and all the time entertaining – retains you alert and .
Who is aware of what’s going to occur subsequent when he’s on the pitch?
Later within the match, although, the targets dried up and there have been some similarities with the best way he ended final season at Liverpool.
The degrees of leisure he offers most likely relies upon so much on whether or not he’s taking part in for a group you assist, and whether or not or not that group is successful.
That is Uruguay Nunez, similar as Liverpool Nunez?
This Uruguay model of Nunez is similar as Liverpool Nunez. Largely.
One who scored 10 targets in 15 video games in all competitions for Liverpool in the midst of final season, however then solely scored as soon as within the 13 video games following that.
One who scored a hat-trick in a pleasant in opposition to Mexico in Uruguay’s ultimate Copa America warm-up match and a aim in every of the primary two group-stage video games in opposition to Panama and Bolivia.
Nevertheless, he didn’t rating once more for the remainder of the match.
The distinction between Liverpool and Uruguay’s Nunez is that Marcelo Bielsa stored selecting him even when the targets dried up.
Throughout Jurgen Klopp‘s ultimate video games at Anfield, in the meantime, Nunez sat on the bench for 5 of the final six league fixtures.
When the video games turned greater in direction of the top of the season for Liverpool and within the quarter-finals, semi-finals and third-place recreation for Uruguay, Nunez failed to attain.
However in some way, regardless of his misses turning into nearly inevitable, he nonetheless appeared like probably the most harmful attacker on the pitch.
That is the conundrum of Nunez, as seen at Liverpool for 2 seasons since his transfer from Benfica in 2022 for an preliminary £64 million.
The belief of Bielsa and Suarez
For Uruguay, the 25-year-old began each recreation on the Copa America because the striker in Bielsa’s 4-2-3-1 formation, taking part in 475 of their whole 540 minutes of motion.
Although he wasn’t scoring, Bielsa caught with him.
Even within the third-place recreation that many managers would possibly use to offer squad gamers an opportunity, Bielsa stored a powerful facet, and there’s a sense he needed to make use of on a regular basis out there to get his finest gamers used to the system.
Good second with Marcelo Bielsa giving Darwin Nuñez a hug after the third place match on Saturday
• Darwin hadn’t scored in Uruguay’s final 4 video games and was nonetheless having a troublesome time as a result of post-match incidents vs. Colombia
pic.twitter.com/a4qqACNJXg— Uruguay Soccer ENG (@UruguayFootENG) July 15, 2024
The supervisor clearly thinks Nunez is certainly one of his finest gamers. Luis Suarez was within the squad for a swansong match however remained on the bench for a lot of it.
There was lots of mutual respect between Nunez and Suarez, with the previous Liverpool man enthusiastically supporting the present Liverpool man, despite the fact that he has taken his place within the facet.
Nunez confirmed the identical love for Suarez when the 37-year-old scored within the third-place recreation in opposition to Canada, having been changed by him at half-time.
Missed possibilities
Within the quarter-final in opposition to Brazil, Nunez missed Uruguay’s solely massive probability of the sport.
A cross was swung in from the precise and he simply needed to head it in from six yards, however the ball hit his shoulder and went over the bar.
In opposition to Colombia within the semi-final – which Uruguay went on to lose 1-0 – Nunez had a couple of possibilities within the opening half an hour. He did brilliantly to create them by good motion, velocity and energy, however despatched every of the three pictures vast.
Uruguay had been among the best groups within the group levels however struggled in opposition to stronger opposition within the knockout rounds, even failing to comfortably see off a poor Brazil facet within the quarters – having to win a penalty shootout to take action.
By the point penalties got here round, Nunez had been taken off.
Liverpool’s No. 9 lower a annoyed, offended determine in these moments of missed possibilities, however a later incident off the pitch was to rile him even additional.
WWE Nunez
Bah gawd, it’s Darwin Nunez with a metal chair!
It was like a scene from WWE, solely extra actual and rather more critical.
On the finish of Uruguay’s semi-final in opposition to Colombia in Charlotte, Uruguay gamers feared for the protection of their households after listening to stories they’d been attacked by Colombia followers within the stands.
Nunez was, let’s say, some of the lively gamers who got here to the defence of the chums and households.
The velocity and rumbustiousness that he reveals on the pitch had been on show as he rushed in direction of the stands.
As soon as there, standing side-on with fists up, like he was doing a session down Rotunda, he took on the followers.
This footage reveals a bit clearer what occurred between Darwin Nuñez and the Colombian followers. pic.twitter.com/AHKjDGIj42
— Uruguay Soccer ENG (@UruguayFootENG) July 11, 2024
After returning to the pitch, he determined he hadn’t completed, and ran in direction of the stands with a chair, flinging it on the hoardings just under the place followers had been located.
It was one of many incidents at this match that led to criticism of the safety operation. A precursor to the rather more critical occasions on the ultimate in Miami.
“The gamers had been compelled to behave this manner,” mentioned Uruguay supervisor Bielsa. “The gamers reacted like several human being would have performed.
“Should you see your spouse, mom, sister or child being attacked, and nobody helps, what are they speculated to do? And they’ll punish the individuals who got here to defend them?
“Any sanctions shouldn’t be for the gamers however for individuals who didn’t stop this from occurring. That they had no alternative.”
Again to Anfield
Nunez will return to Liverpool this summer season with a bronze medal and a brand new coach to impress, one who has already talked up how he’ll match into his system.
“I assume he’ll match very well into this [playing style] as a result of I like him,” Arne Slot declared.
“He might need had some struggles with ending alternatives however he got here lots of occasions into these positions.”
There’s all the time the engaging chance that if Nunez can mix that incessant operating, the untrackable motion, the uncatchable tempo and the unmatchable energy, he’ll change into the very best centre-forward on the planet.
Even when it doesn’t occur, he’ll nonetheless be helpful for Slot’s Liverpool, on and off the ball, probably taking part in up entrance in an analogous system to Bielsa’s (don’t name it 4-2-3-1).
However he would possibly want Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah to attain the targets.
